Does that title sound vaguely familiar to you? Is it something you’ve read? Something you’ve heard? Something you’ve said, maybe? Perhaps you had a hand in composing it?Does that title sound vaguely familiar to you? Is it something you’ve read? Something you’ve heard? Something you’ve said, maybe? Perhaps you had a hand in composing it?

I hope that if you don’t immediately recognize it, it tickles the corner of your mind and bothers you all day like a song title you just can’t remember and therefore can’t Google to get the words to it.

Brothers and Sisters…this is our Mission Statement. It is the definition of our own understanding of who we are and what we do right now at this moment. It is an identity that we have discerned. Ostensibly, it is what inspires us, drives us, and guides us.

Question… is it doing its job? Is it visible in our church, present in our worship, guiding and forming the work of the people called Methodists in Lake Geneva, WI?

If the answer is yes, great! It might be a good idea to assess the results every once in a while, but still…great!

If the answer is no… why not? Have we outgrown it? Does it still have relevance? Have we just forgotten it exists?

You see…the thing is, a Mission Statement is only part of the picture in a church. The other part is the Vision Statement- who we are going to be and where we are going to go, by the grace of God. A Vision Statement is aspirational, a goal to reach and strive for, a place we’re called to journey to. And I’m sure I don’t have to tell any of you folks that you’ll have a heck of a time getting anywhere and if you don’t have some sort of idea where and who you are right now.

So, I think we should take a good look at our Mission Statement. We should keep it in front of us. If it is a good and true representation of who we are and where we are called to be (spoiler alert- I really think it is), then we need to ensure that it becomes a part of everything we do as we strive to live into the Kingdom of God.

Whether it is forming a regular prayer group, repairing a window, planning a worship service, reading our daily devotional, hosting Walworth County at the Fair, meeting as an Ad Council or developing new ministries….you name it- Sharing Christ’s love with everyone through our thoughts, words, and actions should be an intentional part of it.

Not gonna lie…I’ve been here three years and I had to go look it up. That’s my bad.

I need to see it more often. I need to pray on it more often. I need to preach it more often. I need to teach it more often. I need to embrace it in the context of every task I do.

Maybe you don’t need all that, but as I do, I’m taking you all with me. So look for it. Let it roll around in your head and take up residence in your heart. I’m sort of thinking that if we do this, its going to wind up showing up in our lives outside of all this church stuff. It may even take on the form of a life of deep, committed discipleship.

And wouldn’t that be a hoot!

I can’t WAIT to get a gander at the Vision that is going to come from all this. I Just. Can’t. Wait!

Can I get an Amen? Can I get a Sharing Christ’s love with everyone through our thoughts, words, and actions?